The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-23
Tho Gathering of the Bektasheeyehs.

The Gathering Of the Bektasheeyehs.
The Ancient Arabs Of North America arc
In session this week at NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
cally known for mystic purposes as the Oasis
Of indianapolis. They have travelled ACROSS
the desert, and are qusrtered In the caravan.
sary commonly styled the New Denison
Hotel. The secret rites Of gloom began on
Monday In the awe-inspiring interior OF
temple which the uninitated inhabitants Of
the Oasis generally speak OF as Pfafiin's
Hall. In Pfaflin's Hall the sacred black
stone has been set up In honor OF CHERIR
Pasha, the Egyptian gentleman whose irrep-
arabic loss the Order Is now bewalling In q
manner that has attracted public attention
to their performances.
We have looked forward to the Indian
apolls event with interest, hoping that 1t
might throw some light upon the fascinat-
Ing mystery surrounding these high old
cockalorums. The expectation Is not disap-
pointed. An official statement OF all that
may be known to outsiders, written partly
In Arabic and partly In the Indiana dialect
has been procured by an enterprising con-
temporary, the Seminal, a newspaper pub
lished in the Oasis. We thus obtain good
deal Of curious information respecting the
Noble Shareefs Of the Western Hemisphere,
who reckon time from the Hegira, swear by
the beard Of the Prophet, and chalk down
their drinks from right to left In the true
Oriental fashion.
Among the most eminently Ancient and
Mohammedan OF the visiting Mobiles now In
indianapolis are SAM BR1GGs Of Cleveland,
Capt. JOE EAKNs, JAMES MCGEE and BILLY
PATTERSON Of New York city, and DR.. WAL
TER N. FLEMING, who wrote the remarkable
elegy on poor dead CHERRY Pashs that APP
peared several weeks ago In these columns
Among the principal Ancient Mobiles Of the
Oasis itself-that Is to say Of Indianapolis
are JOSEPH w. SMITH, whose esoteric name
Is Shareef Al EM1R; SAM. HILIMAN, known
In and about the Oasis as shareef SALM Ell
CIKM1YA; and II. H. MoGAFFEY and DAVE
STRousR, With several hundred other
Shareefs they propose, when the mourning
for CHERIF has been properly attended to-
to "sit down to the mahogany upon which
will be laid the finest banquet ever spread In
Indianapolis"
We learn also that the North American
Arabs trace their mystic lineage back ITO
the Kalif ALICE whose name be praised D
the cousip-geFman and son-in-law OF the
Prophet MoHAMMED (AL1AH favor and pre-
serve himy' Without venturing too positive
an opinion on delicate subject, we should
say that this fact ought to entitle SAM
BRIGGS, billy PATTERSON, and the other
Ancients to wear tho green turban. That
would be q much more appropriate and
Oriental head covering than the tall
loA1 lal %
feet, and it would add to the street life
of our American cities an element Of pic
turesqueness and color which Is now alto
gether wanting. II 1t be objected that ALHE
was not really descendant Of the Prophet
we can only reply that Messrs. SAM BRIGGS,
WMLIAMPATTRBsoS, and JAMES MCGEE are
not really descendants OF the KALI ALEE
Their title to the green turbap is perfectly
sound. on the principle OF the MOngoose.
The order Of the Bektasheeyehs was origi-
nally instituted at Mecca as a sort OF Arabian
Vigilance Committee, and the function OF It's
members was to dispense justice and OK
ecute punishment upon criminals who escape
their Just deserts through the hardness
of the courts" and also "to promote
religious liberation among cultured men Of
all nations" How far the latter of these
worthy objects Is still kept In view by the
Bektasheeyehs We are unable to say, The
former function, under the necessary eondi-
lions of society In the civilized western hem
isphere, has almost wholly disappeared; al
though a survival Of it to a certain extent
may DO found In the single case of one of the
most illustrious OF the New York Bektashee-
yehs. We refer TO the Shareef ALEX Es-
WILLIAMS of the Nineteenth precinct.
The official statement to which We owe
these interesting facts warns us against con-
founding the genuine Bektasheeyehs, who
wear tall white hats. with inferior orders Of
deryishes like the Hadafeeyehs, the Rlfaee-
yehs, and the Sadlreeyehs. who contribute
to the good of mankind by bowling, whlrl-
Ing, dancing, or barking during their cere-
monial Observances. The real Bektashee-
yehs are not howlers, or whirlers. or dancers,
or barkers. On the contrary, they "are
eminent for their broad and catholic tolera-
uon," and this fact 10 1.-The secret Of the
Orders profound grasp on the intellect and
heart of all cultured people,"
The emblem Of the Order Ia crescent, the
most highly priced material for It's construc-
ton being the claws of the royal Bengal
tiger. For esoteric reasons" says our in
tormant, I'VE hang the horns OF the crescent
doSngard." We are prepared to believe
IL And spirit Of strict Immortality Leads